Drill string section



Nov. 19, 1935. H. E JOHNSON DRILL STRING SECTION Filed Feb. 5, 1935 Inventor W 0 m 0 M r. a a m M By Attorney Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to rotary oil Well drills and more particularly to a section of the Kelly rod assembly therefor.

A general object of the invention is to provide a rod section that will enable the drill to drill a well straight down into the earth to the oil and Without making a crooked hole; and further which can be used where a crooked hole has previously been drilled and which, when used under such latter circumstances, serves to straighten the crooked hole without resorting to the usual cementing back operation as is now required.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Kelly rod assembly which may be also used in the nature of a fishing rod.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional View through the improved Kelly rod section.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of an upper collar.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a lower collar.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of a coupling.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that the Kelly rod section includes an outer casing consisting of a pair of complemental sections 5 and 6. The sections 5, and 6, which are cylindrical, are of a predetermined length and at one end are respectively threaded as at 5a and 6a respectively, for receiving the oppositely threaded end sections 1 and B respectively of a coupling or union 9 formed with shoulders l against which the ends of the sections and 6 are caused to abut when these sections are properly threadedly engaged with the union or coupling 9 as shown in Figure 1.

Also forming a part of the casing is an upper collar II that is substantially cylindrical and has a reduced threaded end Ha that screws into the end 5?) of the casing section 5 until the shoulder l2 of the collar H abuts the adjacent end of the section 5. At its upper end the collar H is provided with inclined flat substantially segmental surface sections l3, and in this connection it will be also noted that the upper or free end portion of the collar II is substantially conical. By reason of this upper construction of the collar said upper end of the collar tapers substantially to the diameter of the Kelly rod M, hereinafter more fully referred to and permits the assembly to be easily fished out when necessary. A substantially cylindrical bottom or lower collar it is provided and the same has an externally threaded reduced end Ito that screws 5 into the end 6b of the casing section ii with the shoulder ll abutting the adjacent end of the casing 6 as shown in Figure 1.

The joint or union 9, and. each of the collars II and 16 are provided with axial bores l9 that 10 are square or non-circular in cross section to correspond to the cross sectional shape of the Kelly rod I4. Also, the walls of the said collars and unions are relatively thick and are provided with mud holes 20 extending therethrough, there being four such mud holes, one at each side of the bore I9 and as shown in Figure 2, these mud holes are substantially semi-cylindrical in cross section being provided with one fiat Wall and an arcuate wall merging with the flat wall.

At its upper end the Kelly rod [4 is provided with a female coupling that in its lower end is provided with a substantially cylindrical threaded socket 2 I that threads on to the upper end of the Kelly rod and which at its upper end is provided with a tapered threaded socket Zla, a bore or passage Zlb connecting the sockets and extending through the joint it being of course understood that the socket Zia, is to receive the lower end of the Kelly rod section to which the improved section is to be connected with. A male joint member is provided on the lower end of the Kelly rod l4 and includes a substantially cylindrical socket 22 that threads onto said lower end of the Kelly rod and a tapered pin 22a, adapted to engage a socket corresponding to the socket Zia on an adjacent section of the Kelly rod, or in the shank of the bit the said male joint also having a passage 22b extending therethrough.

As will be seen, the union 9, the collars II and It and thetubular members 5 and 6 act to increase the cross sectional area of that part of the Kelly rod which they surround and makes this section of the Kelly rod of circular shape in cross section and of a diameter but slightly smaller than the diameter of the hole being bored. For instance, if the hole being drilled is 11 inches, I prefer to make the device ten and three-fourth inches in diameter. The improved section follows directly after the bit and is but slightly smaller than the hole being drilled. It gives the bit and drill pipe a more substantial and direct course to drill the hole and prevents the drill from moving out of a straight course when the drill enters the formation of irregular hardness as it acts to hold the bit in its direct and due course.

It will be found in actual practice that a Kelly rod assembly embodying the features of the present invention will be strong and durable and admirable for drilling a straight hole, or for straightening crooked holes, and when used in this latter capacity will eliminate the generally required cementing back operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. Means for increasing the cross sectional area of that part of a drill rod located adjacent the bit comprising a casing including a pair of sections, a coupling connecting said sections, and collars on the free ends of said sections, said coupling and said collars having respectively an axial bore and mud holes extending longitudinally and non-communicating with said bore, and a Kelly rod section fitting Within the bores of said coupling and collars.

2. Means for increasing the cross sectional area of that part of a drill rod located adjacent the bit comprising a casing including a plurality of aligned casing sections having threaded ends, means connecting said sections including a union having oppositely threaded ends engaging the adjacent threaded ends of aligned casing sections, collars having ends threadedly engaged with the free ends of said casing sections, one of said collars tapering toward its free end and provided at said tapered end with flat sections, and a Kelly rod section extendingthrough said coupling and collars.

3. Means for increasing the cross sectional area of that part of a drill rod located adjacent the bit comprising a casing including a plurality of aligned casing sections having threaded ends, means connecting said sections including a union having oppositely threaded ends engaging the adjacent threaded ends of aligned casing sections, collars having ends threadedly engaged with the free ends of said casing sections, one of said collars tapering toward its free end and provided at said tapered end with fiat sections, a Kelly rod section extending through said coupling and collars, said coupling and collars having axial bores of the same cross sectional shape as the Kelly rod section, and being also respectively provided with a series of longitudinal- 1y extending mud holes disposed about said bore.

HOMER EARL JOHNSON. 

